One app for all your study abroad needs
Are you an international student wanting to study in Spain? Then, you will have to take the PCE test. The PCE test (Pruebas de Competencias Específicas) is often a mandatory examination that you have to take to enrol in undergraduate programs at a Spanish public or private university. The UNEDassis manages the exam. It is mostly conducted in Spanish (although some translations are available). In this blog, you will learn about the purpose of the PCE exam, its format, scoring system, registration process, and the universities that accept this course. You will also get to learn about the difficulty level of the examination and understand if you should take this paper.
This Blog Includes:
PCE Test: An Overview
The PCE exams are university-level entrance examinations specially designed for international students. Any student who has completed their high school form abroad usually has the option to take this exam. Often, for non-EU students, this examination is mandatory. One key thing to remember is that this is not a single examination, but a set of exams covering specific subjects. As an international student (non-EU) you are often recommended to take 4 or more subject tests to obtain the accreditation and competitive admission grade.
PCE Exam Format
You can take a maximum of 6 subjects from the UNED PCE offerings. As mentioned earlier, non-EU students have to take at least 4 subjects for the UNEDasiss Access Accreditation. On the other hand, the exact choice of subjects depends on your educational background, the university you are applying to, and the degree you want. It also depends on the Spanish Autonomous Community (region) you are applying to.
Language, Duration, and Type of Questions Asked
International students have to take this exam in Spanish. Most sections require a Spanish proficiency of at least B1/B2 or higher. However, for some subjects, questions are provided in both Spanish and English. This exam is conducted for a duration of 90 minutes or 1.5 hours. The format of the paper varies depending on the subject you take up. You can find that questions can be in:
- MCQ format
- Practical Exercises (such questions can come from specific Science subjects)
- Short/Long-Answer Questions
Subject Categories
The subjects are divided into 4 main categories. (Science & Technology, Health Sciences, Arts & Humanities, and Social & Legal Sciences). You have the option to choose the subjects relevant to the course you are going to study. Aside from the main subjects, you can choose some common subjects. For example, choose a foreign language subject like English.
| No | Knowledge Area / Category | Example PCE Subjects |
| 1 | Science & Technology | Mathematics II, Physics, Chemistry, Technical Drawing, Biology, Geology |
| 2 | Health Sciences | Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics II |
| 3 | Arts & Humanities | History of Art, Latin, Fundamentals of Art, History of Philosophy |
| 4 | Social & Legal Sciences | Mathematics Applied to Social Sciences, Business Economics, Geography |
| 5 | Common Subjects | Spanish Language and Literature; History of Spain or History of Philosophy; Foreign Language (English, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese) |
Also Read: DELF Test: Importance, Test Levels, Scoring, Registration, Exam Centres, and More
Scoring Pattern
Each subject is graded out of 10 points. The maximum grade you can obtain is 14 points. It is often calculated as: Access Grade (up to 10 points), Improvement Grade (up to 4 points). The improvement grade is often calculated as the two best-scored PCE subjects that the target university has assigned a weighting of 0.2 for your degree.
| No. | Component | Key Points |
| 1 | Total Score | Max 14 points = Access Grade (up to 10) + Improvement Grade (up to 4). |
| 2 | Access Grade (10) | Based on high school grade (NMB) + 4 best PCE subjects (must score ≥ 5 to count). |
| 3 | Improvement Grade (4) | The 2 best PCE subjects are weighted 0.2 for your degree. Formula: (M1×0.2) + (M2×0.2). |
| 4 | Weighting | Subjects weighted 0.1 or 0.2 by universities (0.2 = higher relevance, bigger impact). |
What is the Passing Score for the PCE Exam?
The passing score you need for each subject is 5.0 out of 10. If you score below, the particular subject score cannot be calculated to increase your university admission grade. Overall, your score must be at least 5.0. It is essential for university access in Spain. You must score at least a 5.0 average across the 4 PCE exams you take. Now, to understand what a good score is, you can look at the table below. We have explained the scoring and the admission possibility with the score.
| S.No. | Target Admission Grade (out of 14) | Good Score on Weighted PCE Subject (out of 10) | Admission Possibility |
| 1 | 5.0 (Minimum Requirement) | ≥ 5.0 | The bare minimum to access the Spanish university system. |
| 2 | 6.0 – 9.0 (Less Competitive Degrees) | 6 – 7 | Likely admission to Humanities or less demanding degrees. |
| 3 | 9.0 – 11.0 (Moderately Competitive) | 7 – 8.5 | Possible admission to mid-range programs. |
| 4 | 11.0 – 14.0 (Highly Competitive) | 8.5 – 10 | Admission is only to the top programs with very high demand. |
PCE Exam Fees for International Students
The PCE exam fees are the same for national and international students. There are mainly two fees: the Accreditation Fee (a one-time administrative fee) and a fee per subject ((Fee for 1st Subject)+(3×Fee for Subsequent Subjects). The fee details are provided in the table below:
| No. | Fee Type | Description | Approximate Cost (EUR) |
| 1 | Accreditation Fee (Essential) | Mandatory fee for UNEDasiss to process your foreign high school degree and issue the university access credential. | 130–150 |
| 2 | PCE Subject Fee | The cost for taking the exam for the first subject. | 50–60 |
| 3 | Additional PCE Subject Fee | Cost for each additional subject taken (from the 2nd subject onward). | 35–45 |
PCE Test Registration Process
Before you register, you need to check the university requirements. Understand which universities you want to apply to and which course you are interested in enrolling in. This is important as the university will determine which PCE subjects you have to take. You can choose up to 6 subjects (non-EU students have to choose only 4).
Once this is done, you have to prepare the essential documents, such as your academic transcripts and ID, and get them translated into Spanish. This is required for the accreditation process. Thereafter, you can fill in the online application form.
- First, visit the official website (UNEDasiss) and register as a new user.
- Next, fill in the application form and enter your personal information and academic data for the same. For example, details of your high school diploma.
- Thereafter, you can select the services you want. One is Qualification for University Admission (Accreditation), and the other is the specific competency test. This helps in calculating the grade and is important for exam registration.
- At this stage, you can select the specific PCE subjects and choose your exam center.
- Pay the fees, submit the necessary documents, and wait for confirmation.
- Get your exam receipt, and bring this along with your ID on the examination day.
When the results are published, the UNEDasiss will issue your official Accreditation. In this, your final score would be indicated. The accreditation by UNEDasiss is essential for university admission. You can use it to start applying to the selected universities.
Also Read: TestAS for International Students: Types, Dates, Format & Registration
Universities Accepting PCE Test Scores
Almost every public and private university in Spain accepts the test scores. The UNEDasiss Accreditation or the PCE exam scores are the standard requirements for admission to Spanish Universities, particularly for highly competitive courses. Here are some of the top universities in Spain that accept these exam results.
| No. | University Name | Location | QS World University Ranking 2025 |
| 1 | University of Barcelona (UB) | Barcelona | 164 |
| 2 | Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) | Barcelona | 178 |
| 3 | Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) | Madrid | 226 |
| 4 | Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) | Barcelona | 233 |
| 5 | University of Navarra (Private) | Pamplona | 267 |
| 6 | IE University (Private) | Madrid/Segovia | 281 |
| 7 | Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) | Madrid | 301–350 |
| 8 | Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) | Barcelona | 328 |
| 9 | Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) | Valencia | 400–410 |
| 10 | University of Granada (UGR) | Granada | 491–500 |
PCE Test Results
The PCE exam results are declared after each exam call. The results are often released 3-4 weeks after the exams. The ordinary calls refer to the main exam session for which most students sit. On the other hand, the extraordinary call refers to the second/fallback exam session, held in September. The results for this are often released late.
| No. | Call | Exam Dates (Spain) | Estimated Results Release |
| 1 | Ordinary Call | May 19–23, 2025 (or June 2–7 for centres abroad) | Late June / Early July 2025 |
| 2 | Extraordinary Call | September 2–6, 2025 | Late September / Early October 2025 |
To check your results, you can visit the official UNEDasiss website, log in to your account, and check the dedicated PCE section. Thereafter, you can view your results online. It is important to note that even universities can view your results directly through the official website.
PCE Exam Centres
You can take the test at dedicated exam centres. The UNED Associated Centres are mostly in Spain. For example, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga, and Sevilla, among others. Exam centres (mostly in embassies) are also available in countries located in Europe, North Africa, Latin America, and select Asian (China, Japan), and North American cities. You will not find an exam centre in India. Those who do not live in a location near an exam centre can send an email to ( [email protected]) before July 15. The secretary of the tests will try to arrange an alternative for you if possible.
Difficulty Level of the PCE Test
The difficulty level of the examination depends on various factors, such as the course you want to pursue and the desired university cut-off score. It also depends on your Spanish language proficiency level. Overall, this exam has a medium to high difficulty level for non native speakers. The things affecting the complexity of the exam are:
- The content level: The questions are mostly asked from the final 2 years of the Spanish high school system. Students from CBSE/ISC in India have different content, and hence require preparation to clear the exam.
- Score: Getting a passing score is possible with preparation. However, to get a high score above 9.0 out of 14.0 can be extremely competitive.
- Language: International students can find it challenging as the exam is mainly conducted in Spanish.
- Subject difficulty level: Subjects like Spanish Language and Literature is high on difficulty level. However, English and Mathematics for Social Sciences are moderately challenging. This also affects the difficulty level.
5 Tips To Prepare for the PCE Exam
Are you planning to take the PCE test? Then, you must prepare well. Here are some tips on how you can prepare well for the examination.
- Choose subjects wisely. Check the university cut-off score, and analyse the Weighting Table (called ponderaciones). Select at least 2 subjects that have a 0.2 weighting and that align with your strengths.
- Polish your language skills: The exam is conducted in Spanish, and hence, you need to work on Spanish vocabulary. Aim for at least B2/C1 proficiency level.
- Practise previous year papers: UNED provides previous years’ solved exams and model tests. You can use it to prepare for the exam.
- Understand the Spanish Curriculum: Use the official Didactic Guides, and understand the exact topics covered. You need to prepare all topics.
- Develop a study plan: Lastly, do not forget to create a study plan. Ensure that you start your preparation early.
To learn how you can study for the PCE, watch this video:
The PCE (Pruebas de Competencias Específicas) is an undergraduate entrance exam for international students. The PCE test scores are required for admission to any public or private university in Spain. This is not one test but several subject tests. You need to choose at least 4 subjects as a non-EU student. The minimum score required is 5 overall and in each subject. You need to score at least 6.0 – 9.0 for admission to less competitive degree programs, and above 9.0 for admission to competitive degree programs.
FAQs
The full form of PCE is Pruebas de Competencias Específicas. This is a set of exams held by UNED for admission to undergraduate programs in Spain. The exam is mainly held for international students.
PCE is a competency test as it assesses your competency in subjects equivalent to the Spanish high school syllabus. This is the main undergraduate entrance examination. You need to take this exam for admission to the course of your choice.
This exam is mainly meant for international students. Even national students can take this exam only if they have completed their studies abroad. To take the test, you need to come under any of these categories and must be interested in enrolling in an undergraduate porgam in Spain.
Related Articles:
60,000+ students trusted us with their dreams. Take the first step today!